short



(No Model.)

S. H. SHORT.

TROLLEY SWITCH.

No. 473,362. Patented Apr. 19, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

SIDNEY H. SHORT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHORT ELECTRIC RAILIVAY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TROLLEY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,362, dated April 19, 1892. Application filed January 8, 1890. Serial No. 336,281. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIDNEY H. SHORT, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley- Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full. clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvementin trolley-switches for electric railroads, the object being to provide a trolley-switch of such construction that a trolley when running in one direction will be guided onto a certain one of two branch conductors and when running in the opposite direction will be automatically guided onto the single conductor connected with the opposite end of the switch.

IVith this object in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of my improved switch. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the switch and a trolley running on one of the ribs or trackways.

A represents a switch, which is preferably made of metal, the opposite side edges of which are provided with depending flanges 1 and 2, which latter are preferably curved, as shown, and arranged to diverge at their opposite ends- The narrow end of the switchplate has secured thereto or formed integral therewith a depending rib or trackway 3, which is located centrally between the flanges l and 2 and extends from the narrow end of the switch-plate to near the center thereof. To the rib or trackway 3 is secured in any desired manner the trolley-Wire 4. The wide end of the switch-plate is provided with two depending ribs or trackways 5 6, which are curved, as shown, and to which are secured the trolley-wires 7 and 8. The ribs 5 and 6 extend from the wider end of the switch-plate toward the center thereof,a space being provided between the ends of the ribs 5 and 6 and the end of the rib 3. To the end of the rib or trackway 5 is secured or connected in any desired manner a yielding trackway-scction 9, which should be of practically the same depth as that of the rib, so that its lower edge shall be flush with the lower edge of the rib and form a continuation thereof, on which the trolley may run smoothly in passing over the switch. This yielding section 9 is preferably made of spring metal, so shaped or bent that its free end 10 shall be normally adjacent to and in line with the end of the rib 3, as illustrated in Fig.1 of the drawings. To the end of the rib or trackway 6 is secured or connected a yielding trackway-section 11, which is also preferably made of spring metal and is so bent that in its normal adjustment or position its outer and free end 12 will rest against the depending flange 2 of the switchplate.

The operation of the switch is, briefly, as follows: When a trolley enters the switch on the trolley-wire 4-, it will run on the rib 3,and from thence onto the yielding section 9, and from thence onto the rib 5 and trolley-wire 7. When a trolley enters the switch on the trolley-wire 8, it will run on the rib 6, and from thence onto the yielding trackway 11. The outer flange of the trolley will engage the downwardly-projecting flange 2 of theswitchplate, which latter serves as a guide and operates to force the yielding trackway 11 laterally and guide the trolley onto the rib 3. From thence it runs onto the trolley-wire 4. As the yielding trackway ll is moved laterally by the engagement of the outer flange of the trolley with the flange 2 the other and inner flange of the trolley will engage the side of the yielding trackway 9 and move it laterally, so as to enable the trolley to pass onto the rib 8. After the passage of the trolley the yieldingtrackways 9 and 11 spring backto their normal positions, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

IVhile the construction and arrangement of parts shown and described is exceedingly simple and the switch is reliable in its operation, it is evident that the trackways 9 and 11 maybe made rigid throughout their length and pivoted at one end to the ribs and be provided with suitable springs forallowing them to yield and cause them to resume their normal positions.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, vis

1. A trolley-switch comprising a yielding trackway or switch-rail, on which the trolley:

runs, and a stationary flange, with which the trolley engages and serves to automatically shift the yield in g trackway or switch-rail, substantially as set forth.

2. A trolley-switch provided with depending ribs, on whichthe trolley runs, and with a yielding trackway or section, one .end .of

a flange for causing the trolley to automatically adjust said movable trackways, substantially as set forth.

4. In atrolley-switch, the combination, with ribs depending from the switch-plate and a yielding trackway on which the trolley runs, of a flange 'for engaging the trolley and cansing-the latter to impart lateral movement to the yielding trackway, substantially as set forth. I

5. In atrolley-switch, the combination, with the switch-plate having depending flanges at its side edges and three or more depending ribs, of yielding plates or tongues attached to two of said ribs, one spring or yielding plate being adapted to normally align with the rib having no yielding tongue and the other yielding tongue being adapted .to normally bear against oneof the depending side flanges of the switch:plate substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed this SIDNEY I-I. SHORT. Witnesses: Y

A. B. CALHOUN,

J OHN O. DOLPH.

specification in .the presence of two subscribin g witnesses. 

